Apparatus for filtration



Filed Nov. 23, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 5, 1940. E. D. FLYNN El AL APPARATUS FOR FILTRATION Filed Nov. 23, 1936 6 Sheets-She'et 3 M ATTORNEY.

Nov. 5, 1940.

APPARATUS FOR FILTRATION Filed Nov. 25, 1936 e Sheets-Sheet'4 PIC-3.5,

' v INVENTOR. [khan/2 /,w BY Fmr/M' f. Aarz.

Nov. 5, 1940. E. D. FLYNN- ET AL 2,22

APPARATUS FOR FILTRATION I Filed Nov. 23, less e Sheets-Sheet 5 I I I I 1 I I I i 1 I I 1 I fan/ar 2 /7 ///z ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 5, 1940 Edward D. Flynn, Oakland, Calif., and Frederick E. Kurz, Glen Ellyn, Ill., assignors to Oliver United Filters Incorporated, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Nevada Application November 23, 1936, Serial No. 112,274

- In Great Britain May 27, 1936 '4 Claims (01. 216-2) This invention relates'to the filtration or dewatering of sewage sludge 'or sludge derived from other liquid-solids mixtures.

More specifically, the invention relates to a unitary, portable, self-contained structure or plant wherein sludge is chemically conditioned and fed to a filter, preferably of the rotary vacuum type, which substantially removes the moisture from the sludge producing a filter cakeand a filtrate substantially freed of solid constituents. It-relates further to the provision of means for automatically feeding sludge to the apparatus and correlated means for proportionately feeding and mixing chemical reagents into the inllj coming sludge.

One embodiment of the invention'includes a supporting framework upon which the various parts are mounted in unitary arrangement.

There isprovided a transversely-extending mixing chamber divided into two sections by a partition terminating near one end of the chamber. Sludge is pumped into an end of one section and flows therethrough, being subjected in its flow to injections of chemical conditioning reagents and agitation for thorough mixing in of the chemicals. It then flows in an opposite direction in the adjacent section and deposits "in a sump from whence the dosed sludge is elevated by an end-' less bucket elevator and discharged into a superposed hopper. The sludge fiows in controlled manner from the hopper to the trough of a rotary vacuum filter, wherein it is dewatered and the filter cake and filtrate disposed of in suitable manner. All of the essential operating elements are carried by the supporting structure in appropriate relationship and the apparatus is designed to be a compact, unitary machine, practically automatic in operation, and of particularvalue for use in small sewage-treatment plants.

One object of the invention is to provide a compact, unitary apparatus for chemically conditioning and filtering sludge.

Another object is to automatically feed sludge and chemical reagentsto the mixing chamber in such manner that the feed of sludge is controlled relative to the capacity of the machine and the feed of chemicals is proportioned relative to the feed of sludge. A further object of the invention resides in placing sewage sludge in a flocculated, fllterable condition by the addition of suitable chemicals and then delivering the flocculated sludge to a filter without any appreciable injury to the flocs. Still another object is the providing of novel conveying elements or buckets for the endless elevator forming a part of the machine.

With these and other objects in view, the 11 vention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and set forth in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that vari- .ous changes in the-form, proportion and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Reierringto the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus em- ,15 bodying the features of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section on the lines 2-2 of Figures 1 and 5; 4

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the conveyor elements or buckets constituting 20 one of the features of the present invention; Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line A of Figure 2, showing additional parts of the apparatus and with certain parts broken away;

Figure 5 is a plan view, similar to Figure 1, with 25 the .cover plate removed;

Figure 6 is an end elevation of the apparatus looking in the direction of the arrow 6 in Figure 1';

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view through 30 one of the air-agitation tubes, taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 5; p

Figure 8 is an end elevation of the apparatus, looking in the direction of the arrow 8 in Figure 1; and

' Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the general arrangement of the means for feeding sludge and chemicals and the means of control therefor.

Referring to the drawings in detail, there is' 40 provided a rigid supporting framework formed of the lower beams ii, the vertical beams i2, and the upper beams l3, thus furnishing an enclosing and supporting structure, substantially rectangular in cross-section, for the various elements of 45 the device. Certain of these elements, as will be described hereinafter, are mounted within the v confines of the framework on the beams ii, and

others are mounted above the level of the upper beams l3 and carried by a cover plate member 50 id, supported on the beams I3 andsubstantially closing the top portion of the framework.

Extending transversely of the framework ap-, proximately midway between the ends thereof is a sludge mixing or dosing chamber, designated the dosing chamber.

generally as l6, wherein chemical-conditioning reagents are supplied to the incoming sludge and thoroughly mixed therewith. This chamber is defined by the end walls l6, side walls I! and bottom wall l8 and is divided into two juxtaposed sections l9 and 28 by the partition 2| which terminates short of one end wall |6, so that the sec-' tions l9 and 20 are intercommunicating around the end of partition 2|. The section I9 is provided with a series of under and over baflles 22, 23, 24 and 25, extending between the partition 2| and side wall l1, and also with similarly exunder the bailie 22 and is subjected to thorough mixing by the violent agitation afiorded by the emanation of air under pressure through the walls of porous air tube 26.- It then flows over the baflle 23 and may be subjected to injection of another chemical reagent, preferably lime, from the nozzle 29, thereafter passing under the baliie 24 into another zone of agitation, afforded by the porous air tube 21, over baffle 25 and around the end of partition 2| into the section 20, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 5. Thus, when the sludge reaches section 28, it is completely conditioned for filtering, having been subjected to injections of one or more chemical conditioning reagents which have been thoroughly mixed and dispersed in the sludge by the air agitation and the effects of the tortuous passage past the under and over battles. The baflies 23 and 25 may be provided with by-pass openings 3| (Figure 2) to prevent accumulating of deposited solids in the angle formed by those baffles and the floor of the mixing chamber. The section 28 of the mixing chamber is provided with an overflow out let 32, which determines the maximum'level of v the liquid and prevents the sludge from overflowing the top of the chamber. The cover plate M has a man-holeror hinged inspectionplate 33, which may be opened for examination of the section |9 of the mixing chamber.

The section 20 of the mixing chamber is provided at its end adjacent the inlet endof section IS, with a depression projecting below the floor 8 and forming a sump 34, which may be pro- -vided with a normally closed drain outlet 35.

This sump is for the accommodation of the lowermost reach of an endless bucket elevator designated generally as 36. This bucket elevator is formed of an endless chain 31, passing around a lower sprocket 38 carried on shaft 39 journaled in suitable bearingaand the upper sprocket 40 carried by shaft 4|, also journaled in suitable bearings. Rigidly attached to the chain 31 by rivets or other means are a plurality of bucket- -conveying elements 42 of novel form, shape and operation, each constituting an important feature of this invention. A housing 43 extends above the cover plate l4 in communication therethrough with the mixing chamber and constitutes an enclosure and support for the upper reach of the elevator 38, and associated elements hereinafter described. The shaft 4| extends through one of the walls 43, and carries on its outer end a sprocket 44 for the reception of a drive chain 45 for rotating the shaft 4| and operating the endless elevator.

In- Figure 3 will be'seen an enlarged detailed view of the novel bucket-conveying element 42. This element, as will be seen, comprises a body portion closed at the bottomand all four sides, and having a curved-over top portion 46 with downwardly-depending lip 41. One end of the element 42 is completely closed and joins to the top portion 46, the other end being open between 10 the upper edge of the main body portion and the top portion 46. The bucket is also open between the lower edge of the lip 41 and the upper edge of the main body portion. It will thus be seen that the element 42 dips down into the sludge 15 within the mixing chamber and the sump 34, and is filled through the space between the lip 41 and the main body portion. The chain 31 carries the bucket up and around the upper sprocket 49 until it assumes an upside-down position, whereupon 28 one end of the bucketbeing completely closed, the

sludge will flow out of the open end and be dumped into ,the hopper 48, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 2.

The hopper 48 extends across the elevator 25 housing 43 and, as above described, receives all of the sludge carried upwardly and dumped by the buckets 42. wardly-extending portion 49, constituting a discharge section and into which the sludge flows 80 from the hopper 48. The lower end of the discharge section 49 has passing therefrom and in communication therewith, a pipe or conduit 59,

which communicates preferably ina tangential manner with, the lower portion of the trough 5| 35 of a filtering device, preferably of the rotary, vacuum type, and in the present instance shown by way of illustration to be an Oliver rotary vacuum filter.- Filters of this type? are well known in the art and the same will not be fully described 0 herein, but will be referred to generally. It Will be seen that the sludge dumped into the hopper 48 will pass therethrough downwardly from the I discharge section 49 and by way of the conduit 58 into the trough 5| of the filter designated generally as 52.

-A novel arrangement is shown for controlling the flow of sludge from the hopper 48 to the filter,

by adjusting the height of the sludge within the ating handle or lever extending through the 55 wall of the housing 43, so as to be conveniently operated by hand. The pipe 53 normally is maintained in an uprightposition, and it will be seen that the sludge level in the hopper 48 and also in.

the filter trough 5| cannot become higher than 60 the upper end of the pipe 53, which is open so that sludge rising within this pipe will overflow the open end thereof and fall back into the mixing chamber |5. By turning the handle 55, the

upper end of pipe 53 may be adjusted to various heights which, as is readily seen, will be effective in maintaining any desired level of sludge within the hopper and the filter trough. By turning the pipe to a horizontal or lower position, the hopper 48, discharge section 49, and filter trough 5| may be emptied and drained whenever such action is desirable or necessary.

The filter assembly 52 is mounted on the cover plate l4, as. is also a motor 56 which, through sprockets 51 and 68 and chain 59 and suitable. 7

It is provided with a downthe motor 58 by suitable power-transmission withdrawing air, the same leading to the vacuumreceiver 64. Air and filtrate liquid are conveyed to the vacuum receiver by the pipes 82 and 88 and the receiver is provided at one end with a stand-pipe section 85. Air is exhausted from the stand pipe through the pipe 88 by means of the vacuum pump 67, and liquid, which collects in the receiver 84, is withdrawn therefrom through pipe 88 by means of centrifugal pump 68 and dis charged through pipe l8.- A motor H drives pumps 81 and 89 and also an air compressor or blower 12 which supplies air under pressure through pipe [3 and valved branch pipes I4 and 15 to the air-agitation tubes 28 and 2! hereinabove described. Air may be supplied to tubes 28 and 21 jointly, singly, or not at all by manipulation of valves 18 and I1, and air may be conducted to the filter assembly for blow-back purposes by pipe 18. The filter is' provided with scraper 19 for stripping off the filter cake.

A detailed view of one of the air-agitation tubes is shown in Figure 7. The tube is mounted at one end on a bracket by means of the tie-rod 8| which extends through the length of the hollow tube 21. A section of piping 82 supports the other end of the tubeand extends through an opening The construction and arrangement of both air tubes is identical and the tubes 28 and 21 may be provided with perforations toemit air, but are preferably formed of a porous material that will allow the free passage of air therethrough. Air

under pressure enters tube 21 from pipe 15 and.

is forcibly ejected through the surface of the tube in all directions, thereby setting up a Zone of intensive agitation for effecting efficient mixing invention is in the method of and arrangement for efi'ecting and controlling the influx of sludge to the machine and the injection of chemicals thereinto, a diagrammatic illustration of which appears in Figure 9. In this view will be seen the section I9 of the mixing chamber, and under and over baiiles 22, 28, 24 and 25, the sludge-inlet pipe 38 and the chemical injectors 28 and 28. Numeral. 88 indicates a pump of relatively high capacity and 81 is a motor for driving the same.

This pump is larger than that necessary to' deliver a continuous supply of sludge to the ma- Certain conventional parts of the.

chine as will be hereinafter described and for reasons which will appear.

Pumps 88 and 88, operated by motor 88, force chemical reagentsQfrom suitable mixing and storage tanks, through and out of injectors 28 and 28, respectively. Tubing 8i connects pump 88 with the hopper 92 (Figure l) of a lime-mixing and storage tank '83 mounted on .cover platel4. Lime is mixed with water in'tank 98 to form milk of lime and flows therefrom to the hopper 92 and is pumped to the injector 28. There is also mounted on cover plate l4 a storage and supply tank 94 for ferric chloride or other chemical which it is desired to use. Tubing 85 connects this tank with pump 88, which draws the chemical therefrom and forces it through injector 28.

It is proposed, in'the present instance, to operate the pumps 88, 88 and 88 in unison, but intermittently. In other words, as long as the supply of sludge in the mixing chamber is below a predetermined level, the pump 86 will operate to deliver a feed of fresh sludge through supply pipe 38. At the same time, and as long as pump 88 is in operation, the pumps 88 and 89 will function to deliver a continuous supply of chemical conditioning reagents to the mixing chamber. The sludge flows past the under and over bafiles and just beyond each zone of chemical injection is subjected to thorough mixing by the agitation efiected by the air tubes 28 and 2'|.' The pump 88 is of a size and capacity that it delivers sludge in a volume in excess of that conveyed to the filter by the elevator 38. The level of the liquid in the mixing chamber, therefore, will continue to rise as long as the pump is in operation. As soon, however, as the sludge level reaches a predetermined height, automatic means are eifective to break the electric circuit common to the pumps 88, 88 and 89, which renders the pumps inoperative and stops the flow of sludge and chemicals to themixing chamber. The advantages of using a pump 88 of relatively high capacity in intermittent operation instead of a smaller one in continuous operation are at least two-fold. The larger pump will probably use less power, as it can be'operated at a. relatively low speed and will be .subject to less wear. Furthermore, a more accurate proportioning of chemicals to sludge can be obtained by this mode of operation. It is well known that a substantial amount of slippage occurs in a pump working continuously at relatively high speed. In that case it is obvious that the desired proportion of chemicals to sludge would be dimcult to maintain constant,

since the volume of sludge supplied continuously would vary from time to time. Very little or no slippage will occur in the large capacity, slow operation pump 88, and, once the injection of chemicals is adjusted in accordance with the influx of sludge, the ratio will remain constant with each batch of sludge and chemicals caused to flow into the machine. Furthermore, whereas a small pump vfnich would deliver approximately the amount of sludge handled by the filter would become clogged with large particles of foreign matter entrained in the sludge, a large pump will tently.

The operation of motors 81 and 88 is controlled by a float-operated switch, as shown in Figure 9. The section 28 of the mixing chamber has. associated therewith and in communication therewith a fioat chamber 86 which is located adjacent the elevator sump 84. That-section of the wall H of the mixing chamber along "pass such particles and may beused'intermitwhich the float chamber extends is cut away at the bottom to afford a passagev 91 .whereby the sludge may pass into the float chamber and assume a common level therein with that of the sludge in the mixing chamber. A hollow ball 98 or other suitable buoyant element is suspended .in the fioat chamber 96 at the end of a rod or shaft 99 and floats on the surface of the sludge when the same is at a sufficient height in the chamber. The rod 99 extends through an opening in the cover plate l4 and is in slidable en gagement with a sleeve I00 at the end of a pivoted snap-switch lever ilJl. Adjustable collars Hi2 and I3 on the rod 99 limit the extent of its sliding movement through the sleeve-Hi0.

The positive and negative sides of the circuit for supplying electric current, for operation of the motors 81 and are indicated by the lines I04 and H15, respectively. As long as the sludge level is at the height shown in Figure 9 or at a lower height, it will be apparent that theswitch l0] will maintain the electric circuit closed and the pumps 8%88 and 89 will continue to deliver sludge and chemicals into the mixing chamber. As the sludge levelrises, the float 98 will rise also, causing the rod 99 to slide upwardly through the sleeve I00 until the collar I93 comes in contact with the sleeve, whereupon any further upward movement will cause the switch IUI to be snapped open, thereby breaking the electric circuit and discontinuing the feed of sludge and chemicals. The circuit will then remain open until the sludge level drops to a height where the collar I02 will contact the sleeve I00 and snap the switch |0I into a closed position, thereby causing the sludge and chemical pumps to function again. Either one or both of the chemical injections may be dispensed with, 'of course, should such procedure be desirable, by disconnecting the motor and either or both pumps, or by shutting ofi'the supply of chemical in other appropriate manner.

By resorting to the use of a bucket elevator instead of a sludge pump or gravity feed for conveying the chemically conditioned sludge to the filter tank, the fiocs formed by the chemical treatment are preserved without any appreciable injury. This factor is of prime importance, for the filterability of sewage sludge depends largely upon the existence of these fiocs.

The sludge-conditioning and filtering apparatus of the present invention is designed with a particular object of supplying an important item for use in relatively small sewage-treatment plants. In accordance with present-day trends of thought, it is becoming increasingly important that even very small communities treat their sewage and waste waters, at least to the extent of removing suspended or putrescible solid matter therefrom, In fact, in many instances, legislative action makes it mandatory that communities subject their sewage to specified treatment before it is discharged into streams. In the case of relatively large towns and cities practically all of the treatment apparatus generally is de-. signed and built to order according to the 'conditions and requirements existing in each individual locality. Construction of plants according to that practice is generally an expensive undertaking, requiring theservices of engineers, contractors, etc., and such expense frequently is not warranted in the erection of relatively small plants.

In view of these facts, it is an important concern of those supplying sanitary engineering equipment to provide machines, apparatus and units for use in sewage-treatment plants which may be sold ofi the shelf," so to speak, and which require practically no erection or installation expense and may be installed in a plant and operated by persons possessing little or no engineering experience. I

The apparatus of the present invention is constructed, sold and operated as a unit for conditioning and filtering the sludge derived from the daily sewage of a certain amount of population, say for example, a maximum of five thousand persons. Therefore, a town of five-thousand population could purchase and easily install and operate One machine. A town of fifteen thousand would require three; and one of seventeen thousand, four machines, assuming, of course, that the units are of the capacity indicated above.

Obviously, the machines may be constructed for a any suitable or desired capacity.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we

declare that what we claim is:

1. Sludge-conditioning and filtering apparatus comprising: a mixing chamber; means for supplying sludge to said chamber; means for flocculating said sludge; a filter disposed above the level of said chamber; and a bucket elevator for chamcomprising: a mixing chamber; means for supplying sludg-e to said chamber; a filter disposed above the level of said chamber; a housing extending upwardly from said mixing chamber with its upper end adjacent said filter; a hopper within said housing, having a downwardly-extending discharge section; a bucket elevator disposed within said housing for conveying sludge from said chamber to said hopper; a conduit leading from said discharge section to said filter; and an open-ended pipe section pivoted in said discharge section for regulating the sludge level in said hopper.

v4. Sludge-conditioning and filtering apparatus comprising: a mixing chamber; means for feeding sludge to said chamber; means for feeding chemical conditioning reagents to said chamber; agitating means within said chamber; a filter; and a bucket elevator for conveying chemically conditioned sludge from said chamber to said filter.

EDWARD D. FLYNN. FREDERICK E. KURZ. 

